Chapter 4 – Celebrations

"Louisa?"

"Yes Martin?"

"I will need some time to prepare the dinner for us for tonight, when we get back to Portwenn. Do you want or need me to drop you off at your house?"

"Already tired of my presence, Martin? ", snapped Louisa, but she immediately regretted her reaction. When would she learn to hold her snappy tongue and understand that Dr. Martin Ellingham would never use ambiguity in his phrases and questions?

As could be expected, Martin's answer was "Noooo!", followed by a hesitative "I just..". He desperately searched his mind to say something that wouldn't spoil the day and finally said "I just wanted to know from which side I should enter the village." He found it a rather good find and was convinced that it was adequate, which was confirmed by Louisa remaining silent after his answer.

Normally, he wouldn't have hesitated to take the route through the village, working his way through villagers and tourists hastily jumping aside when they saw him coming or upon an impatient hoot from his claxon, but now he assured that he approached the village from the other side. He continued the B3314 a bit longer and turned right at St. Endellion, passed Pennant farm and Trefreock farm and entered the village via Church Hill. In front of the pharmacy stood Mrs. Tishell. The way she was dressed, with a Barbour coat and hat and heavy old fashioned walking boots, she most likely was about to go for a walk. As soon as she saw the silver Lexus descending the hill, she practically jumped to the middle of the road, obliging Martin to brake forcefully.

"Idiot!", he shouted, but his professionalism obliged him to open the window and to inquire whether there was some sort of medical emergency that would require his attention.

"Oh Doctor Ellingham", Sally Tishell cooed joyfully, "thank you so much for your present, so thoughtful and adequate!". She wanted to bend and pass her head through the window to kiss him, but he shielded himself with his arm and shouted "Go a way Mrs. Tishell, it's not even Boxing day yet! Good bye!"

As soon as Mrs. Tishell had withdrawn her head from the car, he slowly accelerated and manoeuvred the car into Roscarrock Hill.

"What was that about, Martin?"

"Ignore it Louisa, we both know that that woman is deranged."

Martin parked the car, put it into the second gear, activated the handbrake and cut off the ignition. Then he stepped out of the car, walked to the passenger's side and courteously opened the door for Louisa.

While Martin opened the front door with his keys, Louisa stood on the terrace for a moment to admire the view of the low sun on the harbour and the village. The weather had been stunning for the time of the year. Louisa regretted a bit that she hadn't been able to benefit a bit more from it, but she wouldn't have wanted to miss the exceptional experience of this afternoon. Assisting to the birth had been a wonderful experience in itself, but being so close to Martin all day and being able to witness his professional skills was something she would never ever forget. Since quite some time, she knew that he was a remarkable man, with extremely high standards and so much knowledge. Today she had been able to see that, when people took the time to listen to his advice and acted accordingly, he would reward them with adequate explanations and patience. She felt that the day had already been very fruitful when it concerned their friendship and she was determined to do everything within her power to make the rest of the day a success for both of them.

She followed Martin inside. The first thing Martin did was to switch the lights in the Christmas tree back on. As it was rather dark already, Martin also switched on some table lamps. It gave the living room a cosy atmosphere. Louisa felt really welcome.

Martin walked to the kitchen and put the kettle on to prepare Louisa some tea. Even without asking her, he knew that he could offer her tea at any moment of the day. He carried the mug to the living room where Louisa had sat down on the sofa and excused himself then, indicating that he needed to get changed and get dry clothes on.

"Of course Martin, no problem.", she answered. She had brought the book she was currently reading, since she had anticipated to the fact that spending a day with Martin, who wasn't really talkative, would include some quiet moments. She had imagined that they would both be seated next to each other, each absorbed by their own reading material. Before making herself comfortable, on the sofa, she took off the walking shoes she was still wearing and placed them in a corner behind the door. Then she curled up on the sofa and started reading.

When Martin, showered, shaved and dressed in a meticulously ironed white shirt and his dark blue suit, came downstairs, he found Louisa fast asleep on his sofa. Her book had fallen upon the floor. She was softly snoring. The events must have been tiring for her. Or his presence boring and sleep-inducing. For a moment he stared at her beautiful face. Then he quietly withdrew and went back upstairs to fetch a blanket, which he draped around her carefully.

He first went into the surgery room, where he arranged that a nurse would go to the Dickenses and then went to the kitchen. As quiet as possible, he retrieved the vegetables from the pantry and started to peel and clean them.

Early this morning, realizing that his stocktaking the day before hadn't been sufficient for a dinner for two, he had gone to the fish mongers. They were also open on Christmas morning, to provide the villagers with fresh crustaceans and fish for the Christmas lunch or dinner. Martin had bought scallops, shrimps in different sizes and a codfish, enough to make a healthy starter, a nutritious soup and a delicious main course of grilled cod. He knew that Louisa loved chocolate and especially chocolate cakes, which was of course full of sugar and empty calories, but he had found a recipe for a mi-cuit that needed less sugar and hardly any fat, so he would challenge himself and prepare her a chocolate mi cuit with red fruit. The latter were from the freezer, but for once it would be OK.

An hour later, Louisa woke up, a bit stiff from the curled-up position on the sofa, she stretched out and stood up from the sofa. Attracted by all kind of delicious smells, she stepped into the kitchen, where Martin was supervising his pots and pans.

"That smells so good Martin!", she said. As she wasn't wearing any shoes, Martin hadn't heard her coming, so he startled and nearly dropped the lid he was about to put on a pan. He turned around and getting just a glimpse of her lovely smile was enough to calm down and to continue his process.

"Would you mind if I use your bathroom to freshen up a bit, Martin?", Louisa asked.

"Of course I don't mind, please go ahead. You know where the towels are.", he added.

Louisa picked up the bag she had brought this morning and climbed the stairs. Just like she expected, the bathroom was spick and span and a pleasure to use. She undressed, took a quick shower and dressed with the dress she retrieved from the bag. She had spent nearly an hour in front of her cupboard to find the clothes for the occasion and she hoped Martin would like her attire.

The sound of her shoes on the stairs and the floor tiles warned Martin of her arrival, this time . She looked so very beautiful! Her sky blue woollen dress perfectly followed the curves of her body. The high heeled black shoes made her legs look taller and the silver coloured scarf around her shoulders made it complete. Already a rather tacit person in the best of times, Martin stood tongue-tied in the middle of the kitchen, blushing, not capable of saying anything that made sense.

"You like it then?", Louisa concluded and briefly touched his cheek with her cool hand. He nodded

"Perfect", he managed to say, finally.

"Thank you, you look pretty handsome too, Martin, with this suit and tie."

"Hmm, it's just a suit like all the others". And to change the subject, "The preparations for our dinner are well under control."

"I can see smell and see that!"

She could smell many different lovely culinary odours and the beautifully laid table were a feast for her eyes. The starters, carpaccio of scallops with an citrus dressing, were already served.

"Please take a seat Louisa", Martin invited her.

That evening, Louisa discovered that Martin was an excellent amateur cook. After the starter, he treated her with a lightly spiced Tai shrimp soup, followed by a perfectly grilled slice of cod with Brussels sprouts mixed with cashew nuts and glazed carrots. It had cost him a fortune to get it early in the morning this Christmas day, but he had bought half a bottle of the best white wine from the owner of the Crab and Lobster.

"Everything is so delicious Martin, I had no idea! Where did you learn to cook so wonderfully? It's better than in a restaurant!"

"It's nothing really", he replied, "a matter of surviving.. better try to do that in a pleasant way, with optimal nutritious food, hmm?"

Louisa started to laugh and said with a jolly wink "Well if it were to me to decide, I would come and have dinner like this here every day, Martin."

"What? … Oh you were joking.. "

He stood up to take away the plates and to serve the dessert. When she saw what he had prepared as the final course of their unplanned Christmas dinner, it was her turn to be tongue-tied. Should she tell someone that Martin served chocolate for dessert, surely nobody would believe her. But in front of her stood the tiniest chocolate cake, served with red fruit coulis and it smelled heavenly. He had made only one, especially for her.

Just as it should be for a mi-cuit, which is the French word for half-cooked, the inside of the cake was still runny and it mixed beautifully with the coulis. Martin didn't need a dessert, sitting in front of Louisa and watching her eat hers was more than enough for him.

After dinner and after having washed the dishes together, They settled on the sofa side by side, a cup of tea on the table in front of them.

Martin stepped towards the Christmas tree and picked up his present for Louisa. "I think this is appropriate now, isn't it? I usually don't celebrate Christmas.", he said.

"The dinner in itself was a wonderful present, Martin. You are spoiling me".
She pulled on the ribbon tied around it and opened the box. Carefully, she lifted the clock out of it and put it on the table.

"Oh Martin, it is so beautiful! Thank you!"

He deftly turned the key at the back and wound the clock to show her that it worked perfectly.

Louisa stood up from the sofa and got her present for Martin from under the tree and gave it to him. Carefully, Martin unwrapped the paper around it. Louisa had bought him a book about Cornwall and its most beautiful spots.

"It was hard for me to choose something for you, Martin. I do hope you will accept to visit some of those places with me. I haven't seen most of them either."

"That would be good, yes, Louisa, please.", he answered a bit shyly. Not hundred percent sure of what kind of reaction she would expect, he stepped forward to her and grabbed both of her hands. He leaned towards her and gave her kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for this day and for going with me to the house on the moor."

"Thank you too, Martin. I have loved every minute of it. For the first time in my life, I had a true Christmas, with a delicious dinner, presents and lovely company." She looked into his eyes and understood that he had experienced it the same way. It made her happy. Suddenly she realized however how tired she was after this emotional day and she stifled a yawn.

"Louisa, you need to get a good rest. I'll walk you home". Every inch a gentleman, Louisa thought. She gathered all her stuff and Martin packed her clock back into the wooden box. On the short walk to her house, he carried it for her. In front of her cottage, she hesitated, should she invite him in? But she decided against it. It would be too much for him, all at once, she judged and to be honest, maybe for me too she said to herself. Let's go with the flow and take it easy..

A few awkward seconds passed. How to end this wonderful day? Neither of them wanted to spoil it at the very last moment. Words couldn't be found, what could be added to what was said before?

"Louisa.." Martin put the box with the clock on the top of an empty flowerpot next to her door and took the bags she was carrying from her hands and put them next to the flower pot. He looked into her questioning eyes and repeated "Louisa, beautiful Louisa.. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her on her soft lips.

"Can I see you again tomorrow?", he asked, his face still so close to hers that she could feel his breath.

"Yes Martin, I would love that! See you tomorrow and hopefully the day after tomorrow and the day after that and.." she whispered pressing her lips to his, for one last lingering kiss on this perfect Christmas day…

The End.